CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 967

 “Our Father”

Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. –  (Matthew 6:9-13)

I have been impressed by the Lord of late to ‘be still’ and to ‘wait on Him’. Sometimes, the Lord compels us to just rest in Him – getting back to the fundamentals of our faith and the simplicity of prayer conversations with Him.

I was brought back to the Lord’s prayer that we were taught from childhood. Many of us can recite it from rote memory. However, that reduces it to a mere parroting of words instead of a prayer. In meditating upon the Lord’s prayer I did not make it much past the first few words as the Holy Spirit showed me a depth of meaning and application.

Jesus began the prayer with the words: ‘Our Father’. Jesus did not say to pray ‘My Father’ or ‘Your Father’, but rather He taught us to say ‘Our Father’. Jesus taught us to pray using the possessive, plural pronoun ‘Our’. The Body of Christ – the Christian Church – is comprised of many believers called saints and children of God. He is our Father.

To all those … who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. – (Romans 1:7)

We are brothers and sisters in Christ. We are family. God is our Father. We are to be united by the love of Jesus and not allow the enemy to sow seeds of discord that would divide us.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body so it is with Christ … For the body does not consist of one member but of many… But God has so composed the body. that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another… – (1 Corinthians 10:12-26)

How do we eliminate division and live as children of God, our Father? Paul explained it best in his letter to the Romans. I encourage you to prayerfully meditate upon each exhortation.

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. – (Romans 12:9-18)

May the words ‘Our Father’ quicken and empower your spirit to overcome the worldly aspects of the flesh and to live out your faith as a child of God and follower of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.